Water-gate.



110.8411170. 'EATEN'EED MAE. 5, 1907.

" vv. o. WEEKS.

WATER GATE. APPLICATION FILED 0011.11, 1906.

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UNITED srngas PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of' Letters Patent.

Patented March 5,1907'.

Application filed October 8 1906. Serial No. 337,964.

T0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. WEEKS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Spokane, in the county of Spokane and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in VVater-Gates, of which the ollcwing is a specification.

My invention relates to that class of watergates used to control the discharge of water through an opening in a dam, bulkhead, or other structure.

The object of my invention is to provide a simpler-constructed and lighter draft-gate than has heretofore been known or in use one that can always be raised and lowered without hindrance or friction or danger of being injured or clogged by accumulated debris or wash; one that will remain rm in any position anchored, whether all the way down and over the opening, partially over the opening, or completely raised above the opening, a gate that can be completely drawn out of the water for the purposes of repair or substitution of any of the members thereof, can be made for an opening of any height or of any reasonable width; one that can be operated either in a vertical or horizontal position and may be deeply submerged or used near the surface and may be raised and lowered to and from a submerged position by suitable guides or rods; one that avoids the necessity of the use of filler-tubes when used to regulate water entering a supply for a waterwheel; a gate that may be constructed either of steel or wood, thereby adapting its use to isolated localities where a particular kind of material might be unavailable. I accomplish these purposes by providing a rolling lift-gate consisting of any number of articulated members or elements held together by hinges, these hinges integral with or in conjunction with tipping-blocks, so arranged that when the gate is being raised the rotation of the iirst or bottom member on its hinges will, after a certain variable amount of such rotation, cause the tipping-blocks on this Jfirst member to engage with those of the second member and those of the second with those of the third, and so on. After each member rotates a certain amount by reason of the direction of the lifting mechanism its tipping-blocks are disengaged from those preceding and succeeding, and the members ascend in a position rotated one hundred and eighty degrees from that assumed by the members when the gate is down or shut. The amount of rotation of each member of the gate is not limited to a certain fixed degree or amount before engaging its tippingblocks with those of the preceding or succeeding members. It may be anything less than one hundred and eighty degrees. It will be noticed that the gate does not roll up like a theater-curtain, but merely reverses its position from that when down, or vice versa. The gate thus having its rolling motion in the open and away from all framework or hindrance, it will be seen that there is only a rolling friction.

1n the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the hinge and tippingblock. Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the hinge and tipping-block. Fig. 3 is a plan of the hinge and tipping-block. Fig. 4 is a combined end elevation and cross-section of the hinge and tipping-block, taken on the dotted line 12 in Figs. 1 and 3 and showing the strengthening-web 13. Fig. 5 is a detailed view, in end elevation, of the gate members, showing the application of the hinges and tipping-blocks to such members. Fig. 6 is an end elevation of gate in the position of being partly raised and anchored. Fig. 7 is a front elevation of the gate in same position as in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is an end elevation of the gate completely down and closing the opening. Fig. 9 is a front elevation of the gate in the same position as Fig. S with the lifting device removed.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

13 indicates steel braces to strengthen the frame of the tipping-blocks 17, 14 a line demonstrating that the base-line of the tippingblock 17 is on a line with the center or the shaft 19 of the hinge 27, 15 bolt-holes for sei IOO IOS

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members 22 are raised and lowered, as demy onstrated in Figs. 6 and 8.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a Water-gate to regulate and control the discharge of Water through an opening in a dam, bulkhead or other structure, the combination of any number of articulated elements or members composing the body ofthe gate, the saine being held together by hinges, these hinges cooperating with tipping-blocks, so arranged th at when the gate is being raised, the rotation of the bottom member on its hinges will, after a certain Variable amount of such rotation, cause the tipping-blocks on this 'first member to engage with those on the second memberand those on the second member to engage those on the third, this process being continuous until the last gate member that it is desired to displace is so effected, each tipping-block after a certain amount of rotation, disengaging itself from the one preceding and succeeding and ascending with the gate members in a position at or Varying from one hundred and eighty degrees from that assumed by the member When the gate is down, substantially as set forth.

2. In a Water-gate to regulate and control the discharge of Water through an opening in a dam, bulkhead or other structure, the body of the gate being composed of any number of articulated members, such members being held together With hinges cooperating With tipping-blocks, substantially as set forth.

3. In a Water-gate to regulate and control Vthe discharge of Water through an opening in a dam, bulkhead or other structure, the body of the gate being composed of any number of articulated members, such members being held together With hinges, cooperating with tipping-blocks, such tipping-blocks having the distinguishing feature of inclined side surfaces, Which may be bn an angle of sixty-seven and one-half degrees or Vary therefrom as desired, to effect the purposes sought, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

VILLIAM C. l/VEEKS.

Vitnesses L. L. VESTFALL, MARY SHOLDERER. 

